Wade Legge: Trio Sessions

As a sideman, pianist Wade Legge turned up on fascinating jazz albums. In addition to his earliest recordings with Dizzy Gillespie between 1952 and '56, he was on Sonny Rollins Plays for Bird (1956), Meet Milt Jackson (1956), Charles Mingus's The Clown (1957), Gigi Gryce and the Jazz Lab Quintet (1957), Johnny Richards' road band in 1957 and Jackie McLean's Alto Madness (1957), among others. [Photo above of Wade Legge]

From the perspective of technique, Legge was probably closer in style to Bud Powell than most other bop pianists. He had a strong command of the keyboard in both hands, and his bop was meticulous, inventive and florid.

Born in Huntington, West Virginia, in 1934, Legge moved with his family at a young age to Buffalo, N.Y. His first visit to Scandinavia and Europe came in early 1953 as a member of the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet. In Stockholm, Sweden, in early February of '53, he recorded his first four sides as a leader with Swedish baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin backed by Gillespie's bassist and drummer—Lou Hackney and Al Jones.

A week later, he recorded another four sides with just Hackney and Jones. These were packaged as a 10-inch LP for the Swedish Modern label. In Paris late that month, the same trio recorded eight songs for French Vogue, which became a 10-inch LP.

Back in the States later that year, Legge became an in-demand keyboardist, thanks to his reputation with Gillespie and the surge in 10-inch LP recording. His other small group recordings were with the Joe Roland Quintet in October 1954 and with Bill Bradley Jr. in February 1955.

Legge also composed a number of strong jazz pieces, including Cold Breeze, recorded by Art Farmer on Modern Art (1958). In 1959, Legge retired from the road and recording, and he returned to Buffalo. On August 15, 1963, Legge died of a bleeding ulcer. He was 29.

JazzWax tracks: You'll find all of these recordings on Wade Legge Trio (Fresh Sound) here.

JazzWax clips: Here's Bud Powell's Dance of the Infidels in 1953...



Here's The Squirrel with Lars Gullin in 1953...



And here's Joyce's Choice with vibraphonist Joe Roland in 1954...



Bonus: Here's Legge's Cold Breeze on Art Farmer's Modern Art (1958), with Art Farmer (tp), Benny Golson (ts), Bill Evans (p), Addison Farmer (b) and Dave Bailey (d)...